Hi folks,
I'm thinking of trying some more open water swims this coming summer. Last summer, I did the Plunge for Patients in Wildwood, NJ (which took a lot of my available courage b/c of swimming through breakers, but I was glad I did it!), the Rainbow Channel Challenge in Somers Point, NJ--a nice mile bay swim (there was also a 2something mile swim, but I didn't feel ready for that), and (as part of an aquathlon) a 1/4 mile lake swim. Oddly, the lake swim made me more nervous than the bay swim b/c there were so many rusty pilings under the surface... I stayed on the deep side for most of the swim, then as soon as my hand touched one of the pilings during a stroke, I walked to shore, rather than risk scraping myself again.
I'd do any of these events again, but looking around for other possibilities as well.
I noticed this in my search:
www.nycswim.org/.../Event.aspx
It's a half mile "Cove to Cove" swim off Manhattan. I realize a half mile is not much, but I have no experience swimming near there, and if I tried one of the featured races, I'd want to get a feel for what it's like before doing a longer swim.
I'm in the Philly area, and travel will depend on available time/money... preferably would be good to find swims fairly nearby, but NYC isn't out of the question.
Thanks for any ideas!
Originally posted by Hoosier
If you dont like jellyfish, boat traffic, floatsome and jetsome (trash, like light poles etc) in the water, dont do any of the NYC swims. LOL Although they are all well ran, and water quaility is up, still some exciting times can be had. Good Swimming
I have experienced the (ha!) companionship of jellyfish, seaweed, and (not horrible) litter in water, but I shudder at hungry flotsam and jetsam. Are you allowed to use light posts as rafts? Boats: well, if I'm not being pulled into their propellars or otherwise mutilated by them.... You aren't, are you, talking about 900 foot tankers or some such? :eek: And how carefully are the races patrolled by volunteers?
The NJ races, such as the September Splash mentioned by Swimmy, have GREAT volunteer support! I did it four years ago--wasn't in any masters' group at the time, just an injured runner wanting some sort of competitive challenge (now I'm a healthy runner as well as swimmer... makes things a lot more fun). Made various newbie mistakes but had a great time (as in fun, not speed!)
Unfortunately, the Sept. Splash is the day before a big half marathon I run every Sept. (altho the darn race is getting so crowded lately, the Sept. Splash is looking better...).
Originally posted by Hoosier
If you dont like jellyfish, boat traffic, floatsome and jetsome (trash, like light poles etc) in the water, dont do any of the NYC swims. LOL Although they are all well ran, and water quaility is up, still some exciting times can be had. Good Swimming
I have experienced the (ha!) companionship of jellyfish, seaweed, and (not horrible) litter in water, but I shudder at hungry flotsam and jetsam. Are you allowed to use light posts as rafts? Boats: well, if I'm not being pulled into their propellars or otherwise mutilated by them.... You aren't, are you, talking about 900 foot tankers or some such? :eek: And how carefully are the races patrolled by volunteers?
The NJ races, such as the September Splash mentioned by Swimmy, have GREAT volunteer support! I did it four years ago--wasn't in any masters' group at the time, just an injured runner wanting some sort of competitive challenge (now I'm a healthy runner as well as swimmer... makes things a lot more fun). Made various newbie mistakes but had a great time (as in fun, not speed!)
Unfortunately, the Sept. Splash is the day before a big half marathon I run every Sept. (altho the darn race is getting so crowded lately, the Sept. Splash is looking better...).
